These Common Plumbing Myths Could be Destroying Your Home

By
Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Air
|February 12, 2018

You’d be surprised by how often we hear common misconceptions about plumbing from our clients, but hey – we’re not blaming you! Between the occasional misinformed friend and a plethora of wrong information online, we know it can be hard to determine what’s true and what’s false. That’s why we’re on a mission to help your plumbing system by debunking these common myths.

Myth: My water heater is going to explode one day!

You’re sitting in the living room watching your favorite show when all of a sudden you hear a loud, grumbling noise coming from your water heater. A lot of people quickly jump to the assumption that their heater is about to explode, but we’re happy to tell you, that’s not true. That noise is nothing more than a collection of sediment that’s built up in the tank. When the heater turns on, the sediment prevents the heat from rising properly and causes the ‘bubbling’ sound we’ve all become so afraid of. And while this certainly won’t cause your heater to explode, you should have it cleaned to prevent future wear and tear.

Myth: Ice cubes sharpen garbage disposal blades.

While we still suggest you throw a few ice cubes down your drain occasionally, it’s not for this reason. Ice cubes will help clean the blades and get rid of bad odors, but over time they will actually dull your edges.

Myth: Flushable wipes are the same as toilet paper, so they’re safe to flush.

The package may say ‘flushable’ but that still doesn’t mean you should be using wipes in place of toilet paper. Flushable wipes are a lot thicker and contain more chemicals than traditional toilet paper, so they don’t biodegrade as well. Over time, and with consistent use, they can clog a line.

Myth: A leaky faucet is no big deal and can be put off for a while.

A few drips here, a few drips there, no big deal right? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ‘small’ leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water a year, nationwide. And not only is a leaky faucet bad for your wallet, it’s bad for your system’s overall health. Well, it may not seem like a big deal at the time, a few drips is an indicator of a much larger problem. Once a leak starts, it can wear out the faucet, stain plumbing fixtures, and cause a lack of water pressure.

At Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Air, we are here for all of your plumbing and heating/cooling needs, which is why we offer 24/7 emergency services. For more information on the services we offer, visit us on the web or give us a call at (662) 269-0851